Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham is adjusting to life with his 2025 squad that has a penchant for nail-biting games.
The Sun Devils (4-1) rallied to edge No. 24 TCU (3-1) on Friday night, which marked the third one-score game for ASU this season. Dillingham, 35, admitted that it’s causing him to age “rapidly.”
“The guys find ways. I mean, it’s amazing,” Dillingham told reporters afterward. “Never seen a strip fumble in a two-minute drill on our own three and then a quarterback sneak that works, that doesn’t work ’cause it’s a false start.”
If rallying from a 17-0 deficit wasn’t enough, ASU played catch-up with TCU all night until defensive lineman Prince Dorbah forced a fumble on TCU quarterback Josh Hoover. ASU then took the lead for the first and only time when kicker Jesus Gomez hit a 23-yard field goal to win.
It marked the second consecutive week where the Sun Devils won 27-24, a week after edging Baylor on Sept. 20. Things haven’t gone smoothly in these late-game situations, and Dillingham recounted that and related Friday’s wild fourth quarter to the 24-20 loss at Mississippi State on Sept. 6.
“And then there should be 30 seconds on the clock at the end of the game (but) because there’s a holding flag, it gives them a free timeout again, like Mississippi State. So now there’s 1:10 left instead of 30 seconds on their final possession,” Dillingham said. “It’s like holy cow. … It’s incredible that our team continues to find ways to get it done in the big moments and testament to the character of the guys we have in the team.”
ASU Had Playoff Hopes on the Line Friday
Dillingham’s crew made the 12-team College Football Playoff field last season, and the Sun Devils entered this season ranked No. 11. MSU knocked the Sun Devils from the rankings, and ASU’s bounce back against Texas State, 34-15, and narrow win over a quality Baylor team weren’t enough to regain entry.
TCU then looked like the team that demolished Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels in week one as the Horned Frogs dominated the first quarter. Trent Battle and Jeremy Payne ran for touchdowns, and Nate McCashland hit a 24-yard field in the second quarter for a 17-0 lead.
ASU’s Stars Ignited Comeback
Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt turned things around with a 57-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. Leavitt then pulled his team within a score before halftime, 17-14, on an 8-yard touchdown run.
“Winners win. … Some people in the biggest moments are their best,” Dillingham said. “Some people love the ball with the game on the line, some people don’t. And Sam’s somebody who loves the ball with the game on the line, and uh so is JT, and I think … hopefully we can not have the game on the line as much, but if we do, I hope it’s in their hands.”
Leavitt and Tyson connected again in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard touchdown pass to tie 24-24. After Gomez’s game-winner, the ASU defense sealed the game with an interception by linebacker Martell Hughes.
With ASU’s bye week ahead, Dillingham said he wants to take it easy on Saturday, aside from some recruiting business. The Sun Devils don’t play again until Oct. 11 against Utah.
“I want to do absolutely nothing tomorrow,” Dillingham admitted. “Now, we have some recruits in town, so I got to get up in the morning at 7 a.m. and start to do that but, yeah. I am so fired up for this bye week. I couldn’t be more fired up for this bye week.”